Slow pace victimizes Blind Luck in Oaks

A pedestrian like slow pace victimized Blind Luck in Sunday's Hollywood Oaks. In the Oaks, Blind Luck was last of five through a slow pace of 25.30 and 50.11 seconds set by the eventual third-place finisher, Camille C. Blind Luck trailed by 7 1/2 lengths with three-eighths remaining and passed three rivals. After the race, Hollendorfer said that Blind Luck "should have laid a little closer." You think? This is the second time that jock Rafael Bejarano has messed up on Blind Luck, the last time was in the Santa Anita Oaks when the same thing happened. Perhaps a change in riders is in store for next time, just to shake things up a bit?

Zenyatta fans will be holding their breath on Sunday, June 13th when the super filly makes a start in the Grade I Vanity, toting high weight of 129lbs. That is quite an impost when you consider the climate of racing these days. She'll be carrying nine pounds more than St Trinians. Zenyatta is seeking her 17th win and an unprecedented third consecutive win in the Vanity. She carried 124 pounds in the 2008 Vanity, her sixth career win, and 129 pounds in the 2009 Vanity, her 11th win.

Rachel Alexandra worked Monday morning at Churchill Downs in :49.20 in splits of 12.60 and 25 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.80, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols. It was the fifth straight Monday workout for the 4-year-old filly since she finished second in the April 30 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill.

Cost of Freedom continued his winning ways by running the opposition off their hooves in the $100,000 Grade III Los Angeles Handicap for his second straight win at $4. The John Sadler trained 7-year-old gelding by Cee's Tizzy was winning his eighth race from 15 lifetime starts and was ridden to victor by Tyler Baze for owners Gary or Cecil Barber.

It's hard to imagine stealing the purse in the Grade I $250,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap but that is what Acclamation did ... again ... under Christian Santiago Reyes. His previous win in the Grade II Jim Murray Handicap was accomplished the same way and the opposition allowed it to happen again when nobody went out with the son of Unusual Heat. The 4-year-old colt is trained by Don Warren and owned by EW and Judy Johnston. The winner paid a nice $8.20.

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